Army places new order for nimble ground bots

The Army Contracting Command has placed a new $12.7 million order with iRobot for 68 of the company's model 310 small unmanned ground robots and spare kits, the company said June 4.

The lightweight model 310, a lighter version of the company's PackBot, comes with a dexterous manipulator and wearable control system, and is able to reach into areas that are inaccessible or too dangerous for soldiers, the company said.

The order is the second placed under a requirements contract through which the Army can purchase the iRobot 310 through September 2015, the company said.